Fiction: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I've since finished Bring Up the Bodies as well, and I slightly prefer the first of the trilogy, but only slightly as they're both fantastic. The Mirror and the Light will be soon to come.
Non-Fiction: It is a toss-up between American Prometheus by Bird and Sherwin and Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog. Intensely different profiles of very eclectic figures that I found endlessly interesting.
Based off a brief segment of Hugh Hewitt he said every high school student should be required to read winds of war. I took him up on that as I am 66 and thought what the heck. Turned out to be as fascinating, action packed and engrossing as he said. I then read the follow up war and remembrance. 2 of the best books I’ve ever read. Anyone 14 or older should/must read these books!
Have read both. Winds of War is remarkable. War and Remembrance is great but much slower however it is a testament to Wouk’s comprehensive knowledge of WWII.
At 74 years young, I've been a very avid reader since I was in my mother's womb! My eight bookcases are filled, and now my pile of TBR books are growing like stalagmites out of the floor. I quit counting at 2,000 books. I'm currently reading my way through the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva. Allon is an art restorer, but is also an Israeli spy. I've learned more about Middle East history from these books than from any news stories. Book #26 is coming out this July. I'm currently on #24. I'd rather sit and read with a mug of French pressed coffee than almost anything else. Within reason! Reading rules!
I read read “30 Below” the true story of the first all female team to climb Denali and “into Thin Air” the famous book about climbing Everest. Both great books and gave me some ideas for my own writing.
I’ve read a wide variety this year. These are really different so I’ll list two: Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (love his quiet prose) and Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones. The second is the definition of “rollicking.” I had only meant to read about 200 pages but couldn’t put it down.
I have a hard time picking just one. So…… the Elements by John Boyne, The Calamity Club by KathrynStockett, Good People by ? ( can’t think of the author’s name right now), and The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.
Hope all is well Jeremy. Been a good, productive reading year down here in Houston. So far, my favorites for nonfiction would have to be Tracy Kidder’s The Soul of a New Machine.
Fiction (Science or otherwise) - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin.
Churchill by Andrew Roberts. Published 2018. Last of several bios I've read on him. Wouldn't want to work for the guy or be at his beck and call! But, what England needed to fortify them in the early years of WWII.
So far it’s been my re-reading of Lonesome Dove. It’s a hard book to top
It's such a great book! We were discussing it on Spark last week.
It'll definitely make my year-end favorites list. Love it even more this time around.
Fiction: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I've since finished Bring Up the Bodies as well, and I slightly prefer the first of the trilogy, but only slightly as they're both fantastic. The Mirror and the Light will be soon to come.
Non-Fiction: It is a toss-up between American Prometheus by Bird and Sherwin and Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog. Intensely different profiles of very eclectic figures that I found endlessly interesting.
I looooved American Prometheus. And Mantel is as close to it gets as a modern classic!
Those books by Hilary Mantel were brilliantly written -- and gave me the chills.
Based off a brief segment of Hugh Hewitt he said every high school student should be required to read winds of war. I took him up on that as I am 66 and thought what the heck. Turned out to be as fascinating, action packed and engrossing as he said. I then read the follow up war and remembrance. 2 of the best books I’ve ever read. Anyone 14 or older should/must read these books!
I read Winds of War last year! Great book. I havent read War and Remembrance yet.
Have read both. Winds of War is remarkable. War and Remembrance is great but much slower however it is a testament to Wouk’s comprehensive knowledge of WWII.
Amazing that one kid is reading to another—that’s the best for parents for many reasons.
I am going to be super cliche here but it’s true: the best book I read this year was Ben Lerner’s Transcription.
High on my list!
At 74 years young, I've been a very avid reader since I was in my mother's womb! My eight bookcases are filled, and now my pile of TBR books are growing like stalagmites out of the floor. I quit counting at 2,000 books. I'm currently reading my way through the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva. Allon is an art restorer, but is also an Israeli spy. I've learned more about Middle East history from these books than from any news stories. Book #26 is coming out this July. I'm currently on #24. I'd rather sit and read with a mug of French pressed coffee than almost anything else. Within reason! Reading rules!
I've heard really good things, but haven't actually read that Silva series. I'll get to it someday!
Those are my vacation reads! Love that series.
I read read “30 Below” the true story of the first all female team to climb Denali and “into Thin Air” the famous book about climbing Everest. Both great books and gave me some ideas for my own writing.
I love mountaineering books — read Into Thin Air a long time ago and it's stuck with me, but I haven't read 30 Below. I'll add to my list.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Loved it!
I’ve read about a dozen of his books and that one is still my favorite!
I’ve read a wide variety this year. These are really different so I’ll list two: Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (love his quiet prose) and Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones. The second is the definition of “rollicking.” I had only meant to read about 200 pages but couldn’t put it down.
Nice, I've never read Fielding!
"How High We Go in the Dark" -- by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Nice, that one is on my list.
Loved that one!
I literally wept for 30 minutes after reading the chapter about the pig.
Oh, absolutely. Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Exactly.
I have a hard time picking just one. So…… the Elements by John Boyne, The Calamity Club by KathrynStockett, Good People by ? ( can’t think of the author’s name right now), and The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.
Great choices! I do love John Boyne.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
Great one!
Hope all is well Jeremy. Been a good, productive reading year down here in Houston. So far, my favorites for nonfiction would have to be Tracy Kidder’s The Soul of a New Machine.
Fiction (Science or otherwise) - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin.
Lonesome Dove as well! I read it for the first time as part of my Pulitzer readings. I felt like I was in the book, with the characters…amazing!
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
Although close seconds go to The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier and Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
I guess that would be An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine. He is a new author for me and now I am enjoying his other books.
Churchill by Andrew Roberts. Published 2018. Last of several bios I've read on him. Wouldn't want to work for the guy or be at his beck and call! But, what England needed to fortify them in the early years of WWII.
That's a *great* book.